§ 15-301

(a) This title may not be construed to authorize a physician assistant to practice independently.

(b) A license issued to a physician assistant shall limit the physician assistant’s scope of practice to medical acts:

(1) Appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant;

(2) Customary to the practice of a patient care team physician; and

(3) In a manner consistent with the collaboration agreement.

(c) Patient services that may be provided by a physician assistant under a collaboration agreement include:

(1) Obtaining comprehensive health histories;

(2) Performing physical examinations;

(3) Evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and providing medical treatment;

(4) Interpreting and evaluating patient data as authorized by a patient care team physician for the purpose of determining management and treatment of patients;

(5) Initiating requests for or performing diagnostic procedures as indicated by pertinent data and as authorized by a patient care team physician;

(6) Exercising prescriptive authority in accordance with § 15–302.2 of this subtitle;

(7) Informing patients about health promotion and disease prevention;

(8) Providing consultations;

(9) Writing medical orders;

(10) Obtaining informed consent;

(11) Delegating medical acts to licensed or unlicensed personnel as authorized under § 14–306 of this article if the physician assistant has at least 7,000 hours of clinical practice experience; and

(12) Certifying a patient’s health or disability as required by a federal, State, or local program.

(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual shall be licensed by the Board before the individual may practice as a physician assistant.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a physician may not collaborate with a physician assistant in the performance of medical acts without notifying the Board of a completed collaboration agreement with the Board.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this title or in a medical emergency, a physician assistant may not perform any medical act:

(i) For which the individual has not been licensed;

(ii) That has not been delegated in a manner consistent with the collaboration agreement;

(iii) That is not appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant; and

(iv) That is not customary to the practice of a patient care team physician listed on the collaboration agreement.

(e) A physician assistant shall consult and collaborate with or refer an individual to an appropriate licensed physician or any other health care provider as appropriate.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the following individuals may practice as a physician assistant without a license:

(1) A physician assistant student enrolled in a physician assistant educational program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor and approved by the Board; or

(2) A physician assistant employed in the service of the federal government while practicing within the scope of the employment.

(g) (1) If a medical act that is to be performed by a physician assistant under this section is a part of the practice of a health occupation that is regulated under this article by another board, any rule or regulation concerning that medical act shall be adopted jointly by the State Board of Physicians and the board that regulates the other health occupation.

(2) If the two boards cannot agree on a proposed rule or regulation, the proposal shall be submitted to the Secretary for a final decision.